Sweet orange tree named &#39;N13-32&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘N13-32’ is a new and distinct early season clone of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange. Fruit of ‘N13-32’ exhibit improved juice color and typical or better soluble solids than the industry standard for processing. Fruit juice of ‘N13-32’ produced a juice color score higher than 36, which is the minimum color score requirement to produce “Grade A” juice.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘N13-32’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct early season clone of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange with improved juice color and typical or better soluble solids for processing named ‘N13-32’. ‘N13-32’ is a somaclone (protoclone, meaning regenerated from protoplasts) regenerated from protoplasts isolated from an embryogenic suspension culture of standard ‘Hamlin’ (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) in 1989. Somaclonal variation is defined as variability in plants regenerated from tissue culture that is either induced or uncovered by a tissue culture process. Most somaclonal variation is negative, but if enough plants are examined, positive changes can usually be recovered. Somaclonal variation has been a primary source of genetic variation in sweet orange exploited in citrus improvement programs (Grosser et al. 2007). Hamlin ‘N13-32’ is the first of three superior ‘Hamlin’ somaclones selected for release from more than 500 somaclones under evaluation. The first asexual reproduction of ‘N13-32’ involved grafting of the original ‘N13-32’ tree onto ‘Swingle’ citrumelo rootstock and planting in the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) North-40 Block 16 in 1991 in Lake Alfred, Fla. Vegetative budwood of ‘N13-32’ was subsequently cut from the tree and successfully grafted onto ‘Swingle’ in 2002 in Lake Alfred, Fla. The resulting tree is the only existing 2^(nd) generation tree of ‘N13-32’ and has demonstrated true-to typeness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘N13-32’ was one of three original ‘Hamlin’ somaclones selected for improved juice color with typical or better soluble solids, based on several years of juice quality data (Table 1). Selection of improved Hamlin clones has proven to be quite difficult due to extreme variability in clonal juice quality data from year to year (unlike ‘Valencia’). Improved color of ‘N13-32’ was noticed during the first two years of fruiting (1995-1996). Of the three original ‘Hamlin’ somaclones evaluated, ‘N13-32’ was selected because it was the first of more than 500 clones evaluated that produced a juice color score higher than 36 in December fruit in a pasteurized juice sensory evaluation (Table 2). The minimum required color score for grade A juice is 36. Traditional clones of ‘Hamlin’, the predominant early season processing orange in Florida, generally produce juice with a color score of around 34, and require blending with other darker colored juice to reach grade A status. Thus, a higher colored clone provides many advantages to the growing NFC (not from concentrate) business. ‘Hamlin’ clone ‘N13-32’ is also maintaining tree health better than adjacent ‘Hamlin’ clones in the test block that is now being impacted by Huanglongbing (HLB) disease.

TABLE 1 Non-pasteurized juice data from Hamlin N13-32 and Hamlin control. Sample Date Clone ID lbs. solids OJ color score Dec. 27, 2000 ‘N13.32’ 4.98 34.1 Control 6.10 33.4 Dec. 01, 2005 ‘N13-32’ 5.25 34.2 Control 5.31 33.4 Nov. 28, 2007 ‘N13-32’ 6.16 35.5 Control 4.75 34.2 Dec. 15, 2008 ‘N13-32’ 5.33 36.7 Control 6.47 36.1 Sample size: 50-70 fruits

TABLE 2 Pasteurized orange juice sensory data, analyzed Jan. 3, 2012. Brix Acid OJ Color Sinking Limonin Flavor Sample ID Cor. % Ratio pH index Pulp ppm Score Hamlin ‘T8-40’ 11.65 0.51 22.84 3.96 33.92 12 1.6 3.25 Hamlin ‘N16-23’ 13.84 0.69 20.06 3.72 32.51 14 1.1 3 ‘Vernia’ 11.68 0.62 18.84 3.8 36.15 14 3 3.25 Hamlin ‘N13-32’ 11.01 0.6 18.35 3.85 36.14 10 1.1 3.13 Hamlin ‘N14-10’ 11.64 0.57 20.42 3.88 32.95 12 2.2 3.31 ‘Valquarius’ 11.21 0.79 14.19 3.58 36.86 12 1.6 3.38 ‘Early Gold’ 12.25 0.49 25 4.11 35.27 14 3.2 3.56 ‘Rosa’ 12.64 0.44 28.73 4.14 33.16 16 2 3.5 ‘Branca’ 11.19 0.49 22.84 4.04 34.38 14 1 3.44 ‘Serra D'Agua’ 12.54 0.55 22.8 3.97 35.52 14 1.3 3.31 ‘Hamlin’ control 11.86 0.53 22.38 3.86 32.81 10 2.3 3.19 *Lower flavor scores indicate better flavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

‘N13-32’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the tree's form, foliage and fruit. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are from the original tree (approximately 20 years of age).

FIG. 1—Shows a close-up of the mature fruit with the rind and cross-sectional view of the fruit when cut in the center.

FIG. 2—Shows the original tree, in a block now impacted by HLB.

FIG. 3—Shows typical heavy cropping with of ‘N13-32’.

FIG. 4—Shows a close-up of leaves and mature fruit.

FIG. 5—Shows typical size and color of whole fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Phenotypic Description of Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck ‘N13-32’

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘N13-32’. The present botanical description is that of the variety grown as a 16 year-old tree growing on ‘Swingle’ rootstock in Lake Alfred, Fla. The colors (except those in common terms) are described from the R. H. S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (second edition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck         -   Common name.—Sweet orange. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Somaclonal variant of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—N/A. -   Tree:     -   -   Ploidy.—Diploid.         -   Size.—Large.         -   Tree height.—6.0 m.         -   Tree spread.—5.3 to 5.4 m.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Density.—Canopies are quite dense.         -   Form.—The tree is obloid shaped with both lateral and             upright branches growing; branches with fruit exhibit             drooping.         -   Growth habit.—Both upright and lateral growth with medium             angle. -   Trunk:     -   -   Trunk diameter.—21 cm in diameter at 30 cm above the ground.         -   Trunk texture.—Smooth.         -   Trunk bark color.—RHS 197A (greyed-green); irregularly             striated with RHS 197C (greyed-green). -   Branches:     -   -   Crotch angle.—First crotch forms a 30 to 45-degree angle,             the middle crotch forms a 60-degree angle.         -   Branch length.—Branches reach 4.4 meters from the first             crotch to the tip of the branch.         -   Branch texture.—Relatively smooth, occasionally with small             thorns or spines.         -   Branch color (shoots from previous flush, hardened, and 4 to             5 mm in diameter).—RHS N137B (green). -   Leaves:     -   -   Size (lamina average).—Length: 122.4 mm Width: 61 mm L/W             ratio: 2.0.         -   Thickness.—Regular and average compare to commercial             ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange.         -   Type.—Simple.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Slightly retuse, relatively acute.         -   Base.—Acute to sub-obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire and smooth.         -   Surface.—Upper surface: Glabrous Lower surface: Medium veins             that are pinnately netted.         -   Color.—Upper surface (adaxial): RHS N137A (green) Lower             surface (abaxial): RHS 137A (green).         -   Petiole.—Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina);             junction between petiole and lamina is articulate Width             (petiole wing): Narrow Shape (petiole wing): Obovate Length:             2.7 to 3.1 mm Width: 5.5 to 6.0 mm Color: RHS N137A (green). -   Flowers and flower buds:     -   -   Type.—Hermaphrodite.         -   Bearing.—Flowers grow from leaf axillaries and leaf             terminals in singles and in small clusters; most single             flowers grow from leaf axillaries; each flower branch             consists of 4-5 flowers.         -   Flower diameter.—Fully open flower has an average diameter             of 28 to 32 mm.         -   Flower depth.—Typical flower has an average depth of 17 mm.         -   Blooming period.—First bloom: Observed late March 2012 Full             bloom: Observed early April, 2012.         -   Flower bud size.—Length: Initial visible flower bud is 1.8             mm in length; mature flower bud is 19.6 mm in length             Diameter: Initial visible flower bud is 2.1 mm in diameter;             mature flower bud is 7.9 mm in diameter.         -   Flower bud shape.—Initial visible flower bud has a round             ball shape; mature flower bud has an elongated olive shape.         -   Color.—Initial visible flower Bud: RHS 143 B (green) Mature             Flower Bud: RHS NN155A (white) with RHS 1A (green-yellow)             spots distributed toward the petal apex.         -   Flower petals.—Number: 5 Length: 17 mm Width: 7.9 mm Shape:             Flat, spatula shaped Apex shape: Smooth, acute shaped Base             shape: Even obtuse.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 155B (white) Lower surface: RHS             NN155C (white) with RHS 150A (yellow-green) spots             distributed toward to the petal apex Margin: Smooth.         -   Sepal.—Number (per flower): 4 per flower Shape: Delta shaped             with acute angle at apex Length: 3.6 mm Width: 3.1 mm Apex             shape: Triangle shaped Margin: Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 145D (yellow-green) Lower surface:             RHS 145C (yellow-green).         -   Fragrance.—Fragrant.         -   Pedicel.—Number: 1 Length: 4.0 to 5.6 mm Diameter: 1.2 to             1.6 mm Color: RHS 142B (green).         -   Reproductive organs.—Fertility: Appears self-fertile Stamen             length: 12.2 to 12.8 mm Anther Length: 2.6 mm Width: 1.1 to             1.2 mm Color: RHS 13C (yellow) Filament length: 9.2 to             10.0 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant Pollen color (general): RHS             13A (yellow).         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 10.6 to 11.0 mm Color: RHS 145C             (yellow-green).         -   Style length.—8.8 mm.         -   Style diameter.—1.1 to 1.6 mm.         -   Style color.—RHS 145C (yellow-green).         -   Ovary shape.—Oval shaped.         -   Ovary diameter.—2.8 mm.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 143C (green). -   Fruit:     -   -   Size.—Uniform.         -   Width.—72 to 74 mm on average.         -   Length.—75 to 76 mm on average.         -   Average weight (per individual fruit).—187 g.         -   Shape.—Earth shaped.         -   Shape (cross-section).—Round.         -   Apex.—Truncated with shallow dent.         -   Apex cavity diameter.—N/A.         -   Base.—No neck.         -   Base cavity diameter.—7.0 to 7.8 mm.         -   Harvesting.—First pick around December 20 (based on season             and rootstock); last pick around March 15, although fruit             continue to hold on the tree for a longer time.         -   Fruit stem (short stem connecting the fruit).—Length: 9.0 mm             Diameter: 3.8 mm Color: RHS 137A (green) with RHS 197C             (greyed-green) strip. -   Skin:     -   -   Adherence.—Adherence between albedo (mesocarp) and flesh             (endocarp) is strong, similar to commercial ‘Hamlin’ sweet             orange; the adherence is evenly distributed from base to             apex.         -   Thickness.—3.5 to 4.5 mm on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Flavedo (epicarp): Ranges between RHS 15A             (yellow-orange) to RHS 16A (yellow-orange) Albedo             (mesocarp): RHS 18C (yellow-orange) Stylar end: Closed.         -   Rind oil cell density.—120-136 oil cells/square cm. -   Flesh:     -   -   Number of segments.—Averages between 10 and 11 segments per             fruit.         -   Segment walls.—Medium soft with sufficient strength to             maintain integrity as separated.         -   Juice.—Abundant.         -   Color.—Uniformly RHS 16A (yellow-orange).         -   Texture.—Medium soft.         -   Vesicles.—Length: arranged from 16 to 17.6 mm on average             Diameter (thickness): 3.5 to 4.2 mm on average.         -   Eating quality (tested at the beginning of March), varies             from season to season.—Soluble solids (average): 10.4-11.4             Acidity (average): 0.6-0.7% Sugar/Acid Ratio : 16-18.5 Juice             Color Index : 34.0-36.7. -   Seeds:     -   -   Type.—Polyembryonic.         -   Number.—Ranges from 2 to 11; highly variable.         -   Shape.—Seed shapes are not uniform. Normal seeds are mostly             ventricose/swollen shaped and clavate, club shaped.         -   Size.—Length: 14 to 15.8 mm Width: 8.5 to 10.5 mm.         -   Seed coat color.—Outer Surface: RHS NN155D (white) and             smooth Inner surface: RHS 165C (greyed-orange).         -   Cotyledon color.—RHS 155A (white). -   Resistance to disease: The original tree is showing better tolerance     to HLB than adjacent ‘Hamlin’ somaclones. Otherwise, disease     resistance is typical of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of sweet orange tree as illustrated and described herein. 